The Nestle Boycott .....

[WSM]

Oakmaiden mentioned that she chooses not to purchase Nestle products and someone asked her why Nestle = Bad. It then occured to me that perhaps some of us are not aware of the Nestle baby milk scandal. Here are a few links for those who would like to know more....

background
a summary
make your voice heard

I would like to point out that I am not a raging BF pusher, in fact my daughter was BF for 10 weeks and then put onto formula by my choice. The point is that these mothers are given very little choice.

This thread is in no way meant to offend, merely to inform and educate.

Thanks for reading

P.S. This is wickedstepmother - I shortened my name due to RSI from obsessive postings !!!

But this Nestle boycott has been going on for years! I remember seeing the posters up around my Uni. That was in 1995!

Unfortunately, It quite clearly hasn't stopped them and doesn't even seem to hurt them. So either something major has to happen to recruit more boycotters or there is no point. There is then only a kind of personal satisfaction that you are not adding to their profits.

It absolutely has not hurt them. My BIL used to be an accountant for nestle and said the boycott was like a drop in the ocean to their profit.

Actually, M2T, I believe the Nestle Boycott has been going on since I was a young child (early 1970s). I know it's only a drop in the ocean, but it's my conscience; I don't want to add even my measily pence to their profit margins when I find their corporate attitude so despicable.

I was really surprised when my mid 20s brother announced he didn't buy nestle because of the "formula thing". Had to laugh when he got all embarrased about me bfing in front of him, honestly you can't win. I admit I let him do the boycott for me. I'm already not contributing to their profits by bfing my ds. Don't buy Nescafe though - but that's because it tastes of tin.

Thanks Zebra, that's how I feel.

Talking about ethical companies (or not) - an interesting thing I found on the net recently about The Body Shop (the comments rather than the entry). Made me feel rather depressed that even the so called "ethical" companies are only ethical when it suits their profits.

Hmm interesting link georgina

Oh, and if you really feel like being depressed, here's an interesting article about whether fairtrade is really fair.

That article was interesting, Georgina A, but didn't you think it was making a lot of leaps in logic? and quite a few assumptions?

That article was interesting, Georgina A, but didn't you think it was making a lot of leaps in logic? and quite a few assumptions?

addle, i agree.

Yes. I've heard better arguments against Fairtrade, but I can't for the life of me remember where I read it, and Google is being uncooperative. I found it interesting at the time (and I'm still not sure where I stand) as I'd always assumed Fairtrade = good and it made me think a bit more carefully about my assumptions. Will try and search for the original thing I read.

I'm with Zebra and WSM on this one - might just be a drop in the ocean but its MY drop in their ocean.. Scary isn't it Georgina - makes me feel like you need a diploma in the subject to go shopping with a clear conscience... Guess we all justhave to do our best!

This makes me feel really guilty. I've made so many efforts to be greener and more ethical this year but so far haven't tackled the nestle one. I'd like to but th eonly breakfast cereal I like is Shreddies and the kids love smarties. Am gradually weaning the kids onto other things (yes I know they shouldn't eat loads of sweets anyway, there was a time when they were happy with raisins. Anyone know if Safeways own version of shreddies is repackaged shreddies. They don't taste the same (not so nice ) but I'd be happy to give them a go. Now I feel even worse that I'm winging about this when you think WHY people boycott nestle. Must get a grip!

I thought that Nestle made a big thing about "we don't make products for anyone else"? Obviously wrong....

No, that's Kelloggs, Oakmaiden. Nestle have always made a lot of own brand foods including cereals, honey, peanut butter, etc.

Managed to find this link which lists the supermarkets and their own brands which are made by Nestle. Releived to find that Safeways Malt Bites are not on the list. Just the smarties issue to tackle then.....

Sorry didn't mean to sound like I was trivialising it all.

Its a re eye-opener to see what is on the products list though - all those mineral waters, pet foods and even contact lens stuff!

Oh b*lls - didn't realise they made Go-Cat. How am I going to explain this to the poor Moggie???

Oakmaiden - is your cat really so fussy?

I've just downgraded our cats from Hills Science to Tesco cheap and cheerful and the daft animals didn't even notice. Still they have a tendency to catch their own anyway.

bearinthebigbluhouse- thanx for the links, they were an eye opener.Tesco's own does a nice pickle similar to branstons.

I beleive Nestle have sold Branston now we can buy Branston Pickle again.

DH very fed up that nestle own Buxton Mineral Water. He moans loudly whenever he finds somewhere local selling other brands in an effort to support the local economy. To discover that our efforts where actually supporting nestle is a real bummer. Just shows what difficult choices being "green" and "ethical" can pose.

Woo Hoo!
Branston's going back into Bear's larder. Am off to Waitrose now to buy the biggest jar they have. Thanks for the link Katherine. BTW Tesco and Somerfield also do Shreddies substitutes Tesco's have a NooNooesque goggly-eyed face on the front which dd loves.